Daily Archives: 8. June 2018

Italian Champions Juventus have officially announced the signing of Mattia Perin from Genoa on a four-year deal.

Mattia Perin completed his £12m move from I Rossoblu on Friday evening after successfully completing his medical at the Allianz Stadium.

The club’s official announcement of the transfer stated: “Juventus Football Club S.p.A. announces that the agreement with Genoa Cricket & Football Club S.p.A. for the definitive acquisition of the registration rights of the player Mattia Perin has been finalised for a consideration of €12m payable in three financial years.The purchase value may increase by a further maximum of €3m on achieving given conditions in the course of the duration of the contract.

“Juventus and the player have signed a 4-year contract of employment until 30 June 2022.”

Juventus and the player have signed a 4-year contract of employment until 30 June 2022. Perin has been in Turin since playing for Italy in their 1-1 draw with Netherlands at the Juventus Stadium on Monday.

He moves to Turin after spending a decade on the books of Genoa, although that included loan spells with Padova and Pescara. Since 2013, he was Il Grifone’s first-choice goalkeeper.

Elite couple, David and Victoria Beckham, have hit out at fake news spreading on social media that the duo are on the verge of a divorce.

Claims that the couple were to split started circulating on Twitter on Friday morning and even prompted a high street bookmakers to suspend betting on them getting a divorce.

How did these rumors start?

Following what is being said on Twitter, it seems the spark that lit the fire under this round of speculation came when a yet-to-be-known report claimed that David was cheating on Victoria with their daughter, Harper’s, teacher (and that she’s supposedly now pregnant with his child).

I can’t believe that Raheem Sterling made David Beckham have an affair with his kid’s teacher and get her pregnant!

You have to give it to David Beckham, on the eve of the World Cup he goes and does this to take away all the media attention from the squad. Is they anything this man won’t do for his country???? National treasure that boy

According to Mirror Online, “bookies suspended betting on news of them splitting following thousands of tweets claiming the couple would be putting out a statement.”

A spokesman from Paddy Power earlier said:” We’ve decided to suspend betting on the separation between Posh and Becks.”

David and Victoria Beckham arrive at St George’s Chapel in Windsor (Image: PA)

The denial!

However, the rumours were strongly denied by the Beckhams.

The Telegraph quoted a spokesman for Victoria Beckham, the former Spice Girl turned fashion designer, as saying:

“If I spent all my time responding to ridiculous Beckham gossip and rumours there wouldn’t be enough hours in the day. What nonsense. Journalist Chinese whispers and fake news fuelled by social media. There is no impending statement, no divorce.”

David Beckham’s spokesman said:

“It is nonsense. It is one of those laughable, nonsense things. There is no divorce. It is laughable.”

How they met?

Dubbed “Posh and Becks” by the media, the couple met when Victoria, a former member of the Spice Girls, attended a Manchester United match in 1997.

They started dating shortly after, and married in 1999, just weeks after David helped Manchester United complete an historic “treble” of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup.

Kanye Westand Kid Cudi debuted their new collaborative album “Kids See Ghosts” at a listening party held on Thursday night in Los Angeles, with technical faults delaying the event by almost three hours.

The album, recorded in Wyoming as part of a five album splurge from West, comprises of seven tracks and includes guest vocals from Ty Dolla $ign and a Kurt Cobain sample on the title track.

The first track features a guest verse from Pusha-T. Track three opens with an early jazz sample. At one point on that song, Kanye made a reference to “The Handmaid’s Tale” character Offred.

On the fourth, both Kanye and Cudi say, “Nothing hurts me anymore, guess what baby, I feel free.” Track five is built around the words “keep moving forward.”

The sixth track opens with someone singing the words “kids see ghosts sometimes.” The seventh and final track opens with a prominent sample of Kurt Cobain’s “Burn the Rain” (from the Montage of Heck companion album). The official track titles and credits have yet to be confirmed.

Former Bafana Bafana player Macbeth Sibaya has reportedly said that racism back home in South Africa is worse than anything he experienced playing in Russia.

Sibaya, who has now retired from playing, spent seven years in Russia at Rubin Kazan from 2003.

“They are very curious I wouldn’t say it’s racism because I live here in South Africa so I know what racism is,” the former player who spent seven years in Russia at Rubin Kazan from 2003 told BBC Sport.

“Racism is a system and I didn’t see a system directed at hating blacks.”

The 40-year-old, who was part of the South Africa squad at the 2002 and 2010 World Cups, admits there are problems in Russia but not on the scale of South Africa.

He continued: “I’m not denying that it [racism] happens but I am saying I live in South Africa I know racism it’s not like that in Russia.”

Sibaya also had some advice for any African fans following their team at the World Cup.

“I’d say they have to be as African as they can be because that is your strength,” he said.

“So don’t try to be someone else if you are going to survive anywhere in the world you have to be who you really are.”

Presently a coach for South African side SuperSport United’s under-19 team, he said he did not feel intimidated when he first arrived in Kazan.

“The welcome I got in Russia was quite good and strange at the same time because you were going to a country where people are not used to black people,” he explained.

“At that time I had dreadlocks so they wanted to touch my hair and see if it’s real or how does it grow to be this shape and this colour.

“So I had to do a lot of explanations on how I got my hair to look like that. They were just interested to know an African.”

Former Chelsea and current Tampa Bay Rowdies midfielder Joe Cole has taken on additional duties as an assistant coach for the team, though his main role will still be as a player for the American second-tier team, the club announced Friday.

Joe Cole moved to the Rowdies in 2016 after a short stint with Coventry, winning three Premier League titles and earning 56 caps for England in a glittering playing career.

Cole is in the process of earning his UEFA A coaching licence and will assume his new responsibilities immediately.

“I’m very excited to start this chapter of my career with the Rowdies,” Cole said. “I have a lot of experience to pass on to the players and I want to play a role in elevating this club to new heights. My primary role is still to play on the field, but I’m very excited to step into coaching as well.”

Rowdies head coach Neill Collins said he will continue to be an important part of the Rowdies playing and now coaching staff.

“Joe has an incredible store of knowledge about the game to share with our young players and with our coaching staff,” he said. “One of the main provisos of me taking the head coaching job a few weeks ago was that I wanted to open an avenue for Joe to share that knowledge as an assistant coach.

“Though he is now a member of the coaching staff as well, Joe’s primary role will remain as a player for the Rowdies.”

Chairman & CEO Bill Edwards believes the appointment will make a big difference to the club.

“When we brought Joe to the Rowdies in 2016, we knew that his experience and knowledge of the game would help the club grow exponentially,” he said. “When Neill was appointed the head coach, he mentioned how important Joe is for the team both on and off the pitch. Having Joe assist in coaching will benefit everyone in the organization.”

League Cup matches will now immediately go straight to penalties if the scores are level at the end of 90 minutes from the coming season after clubs voted to remove extra time, the English Football League (EFL) said on Friday.

The EFL said the withdrawal of the extra 30 minutes of play would help ease the burden on players during midweek cup matches by reducing fatigue.

Penalty shootouts will revert to the traditional format in which teams alternate their spot-kicks, the ruling body said, after last season’s competition trialled an ABBA forma where team A would take the first penalty, team B the second and third, team A the fourth and fifth and so on.

However, shootouts will revert to the traditional format in which teams alternate their spot-kicks, the ruling body said.

Clubs will also no longer receive seedings in the first two rounds of the tournament, while all League Cup fixtures at Premier League grounds will have Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology.

The VAR system, which will be used at the World Cup in Russia, was trialled in one of the recent semifinals between Chelsea and Arsenal, and in the final when the Gunners faced Manchester City.

Aston Villa Steve Bruce boss is being targeted by Leeds United – who are set to give up on Marcelo Bielsa.Wolves’ interest in Rui Patricio could be hijacked by Barcelona with the Spanish champions having reportedly set their sights on the Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper.Abel Hernandez, the striker who has been linked with Aston Villa, Birmingham City and Wolves, is close to completing a move to Leeds United.Tony Coton – the head of domestic recruitment at Aston Villa – has today left join Sunderland.

LONDON EVENING STANDARDHarry Kane is close to agreeing a new long-term contract with Tottenham that would make him one of the best-paid English players in the Premier League.Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has described coaching Real Madrid as “the pinnacle of your career”.Tottenham look set to end their interest in Wilfried Zaha after discovering Crystal Palace value the winger at £70m.

MANCHESTER EVENING NEWSJose Mourinho has identified Clement Lenglet as a cut-price alternative to Toby Alderweireld.Leroy Sane can only have been left out of Germany’s World Cup squad for ‘non-footballing reasons’, according to Michael Ballack.Sergio Aguero insists he will not be tempted by a move to Real Madrid – or a return to Atletico Madrid.

LIVERPOOL ECHOLiverpool are set to confirm their £53.8million swoop for Nabil Fekir. It is believed Liverpool will pay Lyon 55million euros (£48.4m) up front plus a maximum of 5m euros (£4.4m) in add-ons.Joel Robles will leave Everton this summer – and a return to Spain is on the cards.Conor Grant’s 10 year association with Everton has come to an end after he signed for Plymouth Argyle.

NEWCASTLE CHRONICLEFormer Newcastle United goalkeeper Tim Krul is set to be released by Brighton and Hove Albion this summer – yet the reigning Spanish champions Barcelona are reportedly interested in the Dutch international.

EXPRESS & STARThe majority of Wolves fans want owners Fosun to splash the cash with another £30million on new signings, an Express & Star poll today reveals.Wolves will sorely miss Benik Afobe if he signs for Stoke, club legend Steve Bull believes.

THE SENTINELStoke City hero Rory Delap is expected to be unveiled as part of Gary Rowett’s coaching set-up.

BOURNEMOUTH ECHOBristol Rovers boss Darrell Clarke believes the addition of former Cherries youngster Sam Matthews will “intensify competition” at the League One club.

LEICESTER MERCURYJonny Evans has completed a cut-price move to Leicester City subject to Premier League approval, the Foxes have announced.

DERBY TELEGRAPHGary Rowett has revealed the reasons behind his decision to leave Derby County for Stoke City.Darren Bent is not sure John Terry would be a good signing for Derby County.

NOTTINGHAM POSTA deal to bring Benfica duo Joao Carvalho and Diogo Goncalves to Nottingham Forest has taken a step closer to being confirmed, according to reports in Portugal.Peterborough United say they have yet to receive a “worthy” bid for Nottingham Forest target Jack Marriott.

THE ARGUSBrighton are eyeing goalkeeping targets as they seek competition for first choice Mathew Ryan.

WEST LONDON SPORTFormer England captain Rio Ferdinand has called on Gareth Southgate to resist the urge to name experienced defender Gary Cahill in his side for the World Cup opener against Tunisia.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has announced that he has been placed on security watchlist and that his safety can no longer be guaranteed.

The former president noted that the present administration wanted to blackmail him into abandoning his divine mandate to protect the rights of Nigerians to a better life. Obasanjo made these allegations in a statement signed by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, on Friday in Abeokuta.

Speaking via Akinyemi, Obasanjo said plans to silence him were in two fold, among which is a plot to cause the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to reopen investigation into the activities of his administration. He added that the Buhari administration had also perfected a plan to use fake documents and witnesses against him.

“Since Chief Olusegun Obasanjo declared in his State-of-the-Nation Special Statement on January 23, 2018, the desperation to frustrate, intimidate and blackmail him into abandoning his divine mandate to protect the rights of the people to better life and living continued unabated and has even taken a bizarre dimension,” the statement said.

Read more from the statement below

“Impeccable security sources have alleged Chief Obasanjo’s name is on their Watch List and that the security of his life cannot be guaranteed. According to these informants, many of who are in the top echelon of the Nation’s security management and close to the corridors of power, the operatives are daily perfecting how to curtail the personal liberties of the former President and hang a crime on him.

‘Ordinarily, we would not have dignified these reports with a response but for the fact that many of these informants are not known for flippant and frivolous talks. Secondly, this Government has demonstrably exhibited apathy, and in some cases, encouraged by its conduct, daily loss of lives and property in many States of the country, the office cannot be indifferent.

We are currently in a nation where the Number Three citizen is currently being harangued and the Number Four citizen is facing similar threat within the same Government they serve. There is a groundswell of our nationals that live in fear that they could be hounded, harassed, maimed or even killed as the battle for 2019 takes this worrisome dimension.

For Chief Obasanjo, this is a joke carried too far and being someone who do not act on unofficial information, he had cautioned all informants and adopted a wait-and-see attitude to the bestial propositions allegedly being contemplated to cow, cage and embarrass him.

The content of the alleged beastly designs, it was learnt are two-fold for now. One, to seize his International Passport and clamp him into detention indefinitely, in order to prevent him from further expressing angst on the pervasive mediocrity in the quality of governance, economic management and in the protection of lives and property by the Government.

But, since that could expose the Government to a swath of international condemnation, embarrassment and outrage, it is said that another plot being hatched is to cause the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to re-open investigation into the activities of Chief Obasanjo’s administration using false witnesses and documents. This will be a re-enactment of the Abacha era in which Chief Obasanjo was one of the principal victims’.

‘The same EFCC that had conducted a clinical investigation on the activities of Obasanjo in and out of Government, it was said, would now be made to stand down the existing report that gave Chief Obasanjo a clean bill of health on the probes are now to get him indicted, fair or foul for possible prosecution and persecution like it is being done to real and perceived opponents, enemies and critics of this Government’

‘Dissent is a fundamental principle on which liberal democracy is predicated. A true democrat must be ready to live with and accommodate dissent and opposition. While it is regrettable how the Government has sunk in its shameless desperation to cow opposition, a resort to blackmail, despotism and Gestapo-tactics being employed by the goons of this Government would not hold water. And no government ever remains in power forever.

‘For the record, Chief Obasanjo reiterates his readiness to face probe again after that of the House of Representatives, the Senate, the ICPC, and the EFCC, but before an independent, objective and credible panel of enquiry to account for his stewardship in Government and beyond’.

‘Chief Obasanjo reiterates that he has taken a principled position to ensure that the ship of the Nigerian State does not capsize and he remains steadfast in his resolve to turn the tide of maladministration, poor economic management and rudderless governance model that has tore Nigerians apart on account of religion and ethnicity which is a great threat to our democracy’.

‘We would like the Government and its supporters to understand that no amount of campaign of calumny, no matter how well contrived, orchestrated or marketed would deter Chief Obasanjo from calling a spade by its name. Chief Obasanjo is a patriot whose sole agenda is to ensure that the country’s unity, progress and democracy are not negotiated on the altar of incompetence and provincialism and mediocrity.

‘It is important to point out that Chief Obasanjo is one former President and Head of State who has engaged the current administration privately and in a bilateral manner on several issues of direct interest to the government and other matters of national concern. That channel of private engagement remains open and continues. However, should there be the need for public engagement, the right to free speech will always be exercised and jealously guarded, again in the best interest of Nigeria and the government.”

The government of Ghana has announced the dissolution of the country’s Football Association (GFA) amid allegations of corruption and bribery.

Ghana president Nana Akufo-Addo made the decision on Thursday, June 7, after footage emerged from a documentary allegedly uncovering fraud and corruption under the leadership of GFA boss Kwesi Nyantakyi.

The GFA president was also heard in the video requesting $11 million from Anas and later placing the $65,000 (£48,000) “shopping money” inside a black plastic bag.

Anas, an undercover reporter, pretended to be a businessman from a Middle Eastern company seeking to invest in Ghanaian football.

Ghana’s information minister, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, said the government has “decided to take immediate steps to have the GFA (Ghana Football Association) dissolved,” citing the “widespread nature of the apparent rot”.

Hamid said interim measures to govern Ghanaian football would be announced, pending the formation of a new association.

The GFA said in a statement that it would cooperate with any investigation.

GFA STATEMENT ON DOCUMENTARY BY TIGER EYE ON ALLEGED ACTS OF CORRUPTION

The Ghana Football Association (GFA)’s attention has been drawn to the airing of a documentary by Tiger Eye PI alleging acts of corruption by some match officials and senior officials of the federation.

The Gfa was not provided with an opportunity to watch the premiering of the documentary as it was neither provided with an advanced copy of the said documentary nor furnished with tickets by Tiger Eye PI to watch the airing.

Though the GFA did not commission Tiger Eye PI to undertake this exercise and have not been provided with the opportunity of watching the documentary, we view the allegations circulating in the media very seriously and would wish to take immediate steps to address them.

To this end we believe its only fair and proper that Tiger Eye furnishes us with the said documentary and hereby request Tiger Eye as a matter of urgency to furnish us with all the recorded material on this documentary to enable us forward it to the appropriate quarters for further investigations.

The GFA wishes to emphasise that it is an association incorporated under the laws of Ghana and as such governed by the laws of Ghana as well as its own Rules and Regulations. It is also affiliated to CAF and FIFA

The GFA wishes to place on record that, there will be no attempt of a cover-up or shield any of our members caught in alleged acts of corruption.

The GFA wishes to assure all that as an institution it does not condone any manner of corrupt practices.

We wish to put on record that eight months ago, we got evidence of some external influences seeking to manipulate matches in our various competitions.

As soon as it became clear to us that we were facing the possibility of some external influences seeking to destroy the sanctity of the game in Ghana, we wrote to FIFA seeking assistance to help combat this menace.

The action we took was in furtherance of the GFA’s desire to fight against match manipulation and maintain the integrity of our game and federation.

We received a full FIFA response few days later, with an action plan on how we can fight the menace of match manipulation through a roadmap for the implementation of the national integrity initiative.

We are still working with FIFA Integrity Department to find the appropriate dates for the action to help educate our members on the dangers of this menace.

The GFA will subsequently be undertaking a holistic review and continue with our reforms geared towards the enhancement of its operations in dealing with alleged acts of corruption in the game.

We urge the football fraternity to remain calm and provide us with all the support we need as we bid to restore confidence and trust in our beautiful game.

We ask anyone with information about these allegations to get in touch with us through: info@ghanafa.org

The official video for the Fifa 2018 World Cup song – ‘Live It Up’ – has been released featuring superstar Will Smith, DJ Nicky Jam and Kosovar singer Era Istrefi.

The video shows footage from previous World Cup tournaments and more of fans of each of the 32 qualified World Cup nations and a cheeky cameo from Ronaldinho who (kinda) reenacts his famous second-round goal against England in the 2002 World Cup tournament, curling a 35-yard free kick over David Seaman.

For the sake of quality, I started writing in the cinema hall. It is amazing how much one can get done during those wait time we often ignore; Inside danfo, on a queue, toilet, over a meal, at the back of your car seat, inside holdup (peculiar to Lagos).

***

There are quite a number of Nigerian movies in the cinema in this season and even more to come. Last weekend, I saw Rule Number 1. Released in the cinema on Friday 1st of June, Rule Number 1 is definitely an enjoyable one. Contrary to what I expected, the movie hall was scanty on a Sunday evening, 2 days after its release.

Rule No 1 is a 5-man act produced by AfurobiOluchi of Mogson- a Nigerian based movie production/rental firm and directed by Lyndsey Efejeku. The 1hr45min movie documents the life of two mid-age, single ladies; Tega and Stephanie played by Chinonso Young and Keira Hewatch respectively. You might remember them from Lekki housewives as Cleopatra and Peace.

Tega and Steph are childhood friends living together in their state of the heart apartment in a suburb of Lagos. Each with her uniqueness, going about life differently.

Steph, a carefree, bubbly, works as customer rep at a bank. Tega, a nerd, reclusive, indoorsy, computer engineer.

The two ladies lived an opposite life, peacefully, except for occasional yogurt fight, Tamuno- played by Bucci Franklin came along and they both had to deal with a fight that shook the foundation of their friendship.

The movie opened and saw Tega occupied on her computer while Steph dragged her tired self home from one of her overnight escapades. Well, not alone, with takeout and gist of course. Seriously, movie producers should find another way to depict geeks and nerds besides backpack and glasses. I mean is that all about them? Tega, Steph’s roommate and best friend seems cool with her ways, the only person Steph’s life bothers is their nosey old unmarried neighbour – Mrs. Banke oh sorry Miss Banke.

The movie might have painted a negative picture on the role Steph played in the movie – Bank’s customer Rep. Her job guarantees meeting people in different social status, however, took this a notch to in the most unprofessional way. Is her role a flashlight on the life of Customer reps? Is it safe to generalize and conclude?

Movie cast now take advert unto a whole new level these days. While I was chilling with my friend the previous day, a tall guy approached us with fliers in hand asking us to go watch the movie under discourse. What will I see when I came to watch the movie, bam, he is the lead role and he’s out there canvassing for his work!?

Moving on, Steph and Tamuno met at what appears to be eatery. Apparently, the duo have met previously and Steph refused to give her contact. Fully bearded, smooth, “Jidenna look alike”, Tamuno is every bit a Fine wine (if you know what I mean). He is determined to woo her this time. The session didn’t take long as next 30 sec saw Steph retouching her makeup ready to leave.

Stephanie was told as a wild lady who doesn’t want to settle for a relationship and wouldn’t mind waltzing from end to another. While there are many of this “confirmed bachelorette” out there, Steph came off too easy. All she wants was to “have fun” while she can. She wouldn’t take money, ready to mingle with anyone, she is not ready to settle, I was confused, Tamuno who just slept with her was confused too. Sis, pick a side rolls eye

In equally same location separated by time zone, Tamuno was begging his way into getting Tega’s contact. The night fought its way into the heart of the most indoorsy Tega who might have found a lover. Events played on the duo and by the end of the night, they both tripping. Like they both been waiting for that day, they immediately connected. The kind of connection you see in the first phase of a relationship. Where things just play out naturally and you a find yourself talking long with someone you just met

Too easy and predictable I would say. The way the connection was ignited like it has always been there.

Tamuno is seeing 2 friends at the same time wow, men are scum. Crys.

I love how they naturally styled Tega. The costumes were not only selected carefully, they were also well matched and I find the movie production A-game.

My best scene was when Tega and Tamuno sat together overlooking Eko bridge. Such a perfect scenery watching the views. The city was quiet and it was easy at that time to melt into the hand of your lover. For a moment there, I forgot something was wrong.

The girls showed me how to pass remote in the house effortlessly. Just fit it between your toe and stretch your leg. You might not want to try that with an African dad or mum. lol

Tamuno stays alone in a fine house moving calculatedly around the house throughout the movie. Acclaimed son of a rich man living in a near-empty house, saved by a cold housekeeper. That I find too vain. There seemed to be no interaction outside the 2 girls he juggles. It didn’t own the place the way I would have expected.

I don’t get why Tamuno asks if he can kiss Tega whenever they are together. Probably Tega’s shyness?

Guys, what do you say to someone who says she hasn’t had sex before… Definitely not congratulations like Tamuno did lol.

Tega is a virgin. She hasn’t done this before. Steph gave Tega sex talk while she stares in disbelief, this is a grown as woman o.

Once you have a bite of it, baby girl, you going to want to come back. Rainy day, Tega finds herself going to Tamuno’s. He nervous too. She just wants to get it over with. Well, slow music, red bra, kisses, dark room muscles contrasting.

Here is how the concluding part of the movie went, the two girls found out they’ve been screwing the same Tamuno. They were pained briefly. Instead of diverting their hurt appropriately, they are more concerned about why he be dating the two of them.

The concluding scenes of rule no 1 I find rather too tacky and here is why. After the two girls found out they have been seeing the same guy, they invited him over. I was expecting a lot of emotions instead they chose to play around it. It made me think, hey, these girls are not serious either. At some point, they shift focus to who is superior and fit to be dated by Tamuno? A guy has been screwing you two and what you are bothered about is class comparison!?

If anyone felt the hurt, it was Tega.

Tega was more pained. She didn’t see it coming. She crying. She probably going to recoil back into her haven. Overall, Rule Number 1 is a playful and relaxing movie but not to expect anything artistic. The hard work that was put into it production is evident.

The weekend is just around the corner, do support them.

Don’t forget to share and comment. I love comments. Ciao!

This review was written by Ibukun Samuel. She can be reached via Twitter (vennypoppin)

A 28-year-old suspected fraudster, James Nwagalezi, was arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court yesterday for allegedly conniving with one Okoli Nmesoma, already facing trial, to hack into the mobile app of Eco Bank Plc and unlawfully withdrawing the sum of N207 million.

Nwagalezi is facing a four-count charge bordering on felony, unlawfully hacking into bank account and stealing. Inspector Jimoh Joseph, the Police prosecutor, told the court that the defendant and others still at large committed the offence on April 27 at Igboelerin, Okokomaiko, Ojo, Lagos.

The Inspector said that the bank management at its headquarters in Lagos reported the fraud to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in charge of Ikoyi Division, SP Tijani Mustapha, who directed a crack team led by Inspector Tope Ijatuyi to fish out the suspects.

He said “Nwagalezi was arrested after several months of manhunt. His arrest brings the number of suspects arrested and charged to court to six. The Police are still hunting for more suspects involved in the alleged fraud.”

According to the prosecutor, the offences are punishable under Sections 411, 387, 287 and 325 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

However, Nwagalezi pleaded not guilty to the charge. Magistrate B. I. Bakare granted him N1 million bail, with two sureties in like sum, one of whom must be a community leader.

He adjourned the case till July 4 and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Ikoyi Prison, pending when he is able to perfect his bail conditions.

Last week, somewhere around the Ejigbo area of Lagos, I saw an Alajo (daily contributions-collector) stroll out of an olosho (commercial sex workers’) house. I am not one given to assumptions or hasty generalisations but she had a modesty so holy about her that my curiosity became insanely exacerbated. She wore no earrings, her hair was in simple braids, her skirt was loose and she had the countenance of a rapture-ready “born again” Christian.

This piece was written by Abayomi Ojo. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of 360Nobs.com.

I had to ask and after being assured that she was indeed a follower of Christ who also doubled as the licensed collector of daily contributions for the area Oloshos, I sank into a deep reflection. I wish I had asked if she was not conflicted about the seeming incompatibility of her religious views with the very business which produces the capital for her venture.

When she dances towards the altar to drop her offering on the last Sunday of the month, does she feel a prick in her conscience? Does anything about the sermon from the pulpit cut deep through her very being or does it further serenade her perfected indifference about the “whatever-ness” of the source of the offerings she brings into the House of the Lord?

Her perfected indifference or the convenient separation of religious demands from her everyday life epitomises the high hypocrisy to be found in our general engagement with religion. It highlights the sad ironies in the sharp contrasts between our renowned national piety on the one hand and the glorification of graft and criminality on the other hand. It explains why we export so much of merchandised religiosity to the rest of the world but fail to retain a little of that to address some of our domestic maladies.

The veteran journalist, Uncle Jimi, recently joked on his radio show about how Nigeria is the only country in the world where you get on a bus and when someone suddenly says ‘Can we bow our heads for prayer’ on a Monday morning, everybody’s head lowers in obedience, including the driver’s!

Recently, Timi Dakolo ranted about an Abuja cleric who is supposed to be in jail for his alleged unholy exploitation of young girls and all hell broke loose. He was threatened, cautioned and warned about the sinfulness of chastising a “man of God”. Even the few comments in Dakolo’s support didn’t seem to have come from an analytical engagement with the alleged criminality in the cleric’s act but generally from the ‘it is well’ and ‘God will judge’ kind of mentality.

It is in the context of that blind, sheepish and largely ignorant engagement with religion that one finds the threat issued by The Muslim Rights Concern to musician Falz about his ‘This is Nigeria’ track very annoying and largely disturbing. The song, an imitation of an American song with a similar title, parodies the goings-on in a country fraught with a myriad of national challenges. It’s an effective attempt at a didactic satire in the hope that social consciousness will be awakened in a way which engenders meaningful conversations focused on leveraging effective strategies to combat our problems. The song clearly addresses the rampant insecurity, herdsmen killings, police brutality, youth restiveness, criminality and corruption in the land.

Unfortunately, rather than address the serious issues raised, the hoopla has been about the singer’s right to point out the issues and his alleged violation of certain religious sensibilities. The angst has been about Falz’s preferred costume and his “unholy” depiction of a certain tribe in the video. Do we hasten to condemn Boko Haram for using hijab-wearing young girls as suicide bombers with the same alacrity or rush to the plight of the victims of the senseless slaughters occurring daily in the Middle Belt? Why do we hasten with so much unchecked ignorance to defend the “God” who is more than capable of defending Himself but care less about the social injustice, oppression, wickedness and satanic exploitations going on around us?

It is time we got seriously talking about the issues militating against the country’s progress and stopped window-dressing or elevating religious preferences to frontal national issues. Political and religious leaders have looted the country and their congregations under the guise of religion for far too long, one would expect that we ought to have become enlightened enough to realise that continuing to travel a path which has hampered our national progress for this long is no longer tenable.

We must move consciously in the direction of reason so that when cogent issues are raised, we go beyond our religious biases to engage and analyse the issues so that after the reasoned distillation, we can retain refined points capable of launching us to national greatness.

•Abayomi Ojo, Magodo, Lagossamyom5@yahoo.com

This piece was written by Abayomi Ojo. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of 360Nobs.com.

Temple music singer, Bisola Aiyeola has released the lyric video of her R&B song, Heartbroken produced by Gray Jones.

Heartbroken is off the ex-Big Brother Naija (BBN)’s recently released six-track music cocktail entitled The Playlist released by her label, Temple Music, a subsidiary of Temple Management Company (TMC).

In the low-tempo song, Bisola is heartbroken after her ‘boo’ leaves her unceremoniously and walks away from their relationship.

Bisola has previously released visuals for her songs, Boda Luku and Luchia.

It’s a season of trends and the Yoruba phrase ‘SHOMO AGE MINI’ is one of the most catchy of all of them as it really addresses the issue of AGE in the society.

So many people oppress others with that AGE FACTOR even in the present-day society. For them, it’s their password for a safe landing when they are wrong but won’t admit it; so they hit you with the humbling Question – “Shomo Age Mini?” which in English language translates to “DO YOU KNOW MY AGE?”.

I know you can relate so let’s hear some of those funny situations we often find ourselves in…

International singer-songwriter and music producer, Kelly Hansome (UglyBeatz Production), announces today the ‘Shomo Age Mini’ Challenge, and is calling on all creative talents to enter the contest. #ShomoAgeMiniChallenge

5. Secure the Bag!

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the rescheduled chairmanship election in the Jaba Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Mr Philip Gwada, has been declared the winner of the poll.

According to the Returning Officer, Grace Doyaro, who announced the result in Kwoi on Thursday, Gwada secured 17,967 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress’ candidate, Mr Benjamin Jok, who scored 7,401 votes.

Doyaro described the election as free and fair, devoid of rancour, adding that the PDP won all the 10 councillor seats in the local government.

During the primaries to determine its chairmanship candidates in the eight local governments of the southern senatorial district in Kaduna, Gwada got 185 votes to beat his rival, Ibrahim Danka, who scored 51 votes.

Leicester City have signed defender Jonny Evans on a three-year contract from Championship side West Bromwich Albion, the Premier League club said on Friday.

Jonny Evans made 96 appearances for West Brom in all competitions since joining the club in 2015 but the Hawthorns outfit were relegated to the second-tier Championship last season.

Leicester activated the 30-year-old’s relegation release clause with reports saying the club will pay 3.5 million pounds in two instalments to West Brom.

“It’s great to join and I’m happy it’s all gone through. When this opportunity came up, it’s one that I couldn’t turn down. It’s an ambitious club, the owners are ambitious and everyone wants to push the club forward,” Evans told Leicester’s website.

EME boss, Banky W has reacted in disagreement to Chimamanda Adichie’s comment on men holding the door for women.

On Wednesday, Nigerian award-winning author, Chimamanda Adichie sparked a nationwide controversy following her comments on “The Daily Show” about men holding the door for women.

According to her, there are people who need the protection more because there are lots of women who are stronger than men.

In her words;

“I thing gestures like holding the door shouldn’t be gender-based. I think it’s a lovely thing to hold the door but we should hold the door for everyone.

Like, I hold the door for men and for women. And so I think the idea of someone holding the door for a woman because she’s a woman… I have trouble with it.

I’m quite happy for people to hold the door for me. But I’m like, hope they’re not doing it because of this sort of idea of chivalry. Because chivalry is really about the idea that women are somehow weak and need protecting. But we know that really, there are many women who are stronger than men”.

While speaking about women being perceived as weak and given preferential treatment in crisis situations, the writer said;

So really, what I think is that the people we should protect are people who need protecting, whether men or women. Which is also why I sort of have trouble with the idea of women and children. When women are classified in the same… I mean, when there’s a tragedy and we say, women and children should leave first. I think, actually, it’s the people who are weak, unwell, young… who should leave first.

Reacting to her comments Banky W is of the opinion that Chimamanda’s comment is ridiculous. He stated that Chilvary is most done not because some men see women as weaker sex but because they want to be gentlemanly romantic.

However, Banky W disagreed with writer’s argument about Hilary Clinton putting “Wife” first on her Twitter bio saying everyone is entitled to decide on the part of their life they want celebrate more.

The Nigeria Police Force on Friday, June 8, released the list containing the names of the successful candidates of its 2018 Police Constable Recruitment exercise.

The Head of Public Complaint, Rapid Response Unit, Abayomi Shogunle, took to his Twitter handle to share the link to the website where successful candidates can check their names as well as the expected resumption date of the new employees of Police.

List of Successful Candidates in 2018 @PoliceNG Constable Recruitment is Out
*Training starts 08.06.18
*Last day of resumption 13.06.18
*Failure to report for Training by 13.06.18 will mean candidate has declined the offer.

On the police website, the names of the successful candidates were grouped according to their states.

The PSC spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, had stated that each local government was allotted seven candidates, adding that the balance of 893 slots would be shared among the states.

“We are not shortchanging any state; the sharing formula ensures that each local government produces seven constables, while the remaining slots would be shared among the states.

“The sharing formula does not confer any advantage on any state or religion. The Chairman of the commission and JAMB have cleared the air on the inclusion of Arabic language in the examination. The candidates were supposed to write Use of English, the other (Arabic language) was just a dummy,” Ani explained.

Premier League club Crystal Palace have completed the free transfer signing of Getafe goalkeeper Vicente Guaita on a three-year deal, the club confirmed on Friday.

Vicente Guaita will officially be an Eagles player following the expiry of his current deal with the Spanish outfit on July 1 and becomes boss Roy Hodgson’s first signing of the summer.

After fighting off strong competition from a number of European sides, Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish confirmed to the club’s official website that Guaita will join up with the squad in pre-season and revealed his delight after the club finally captured their man.

“We are delighted to sign one of La Liga’s best goalkeepers and pleased that we beat off the competition for his signature,” he said. “We very much look forward to Vicente joining in pre-season training and helping us push on in the Premier League.”

The goalkeeper starred for Getafe during the recently concluded campaign, in which he kept 12 clean sheets as the Azulones securing a surprising eighth-place La Liga finish in their return to the Spanish top flight following their playoff promotion from the Segunda Division 12 months prior.https://twitter.com/CPFC/status/1005035275511353344?s=20

The wife of Portugal’s goalkeeper, Rui Patricio has urged the national team coach to allow the players to masturbate during the World Cup.

She believes the Portugese national team will have a better chance of success at the tournament if head coach Fernando Santos urges his players to masturbate.

Dr Vera Ribeiro, a psychologist who specialises in sexual matters, has published a book in which she examines the love lives of footballers. In the book titled ‘Manual of Seduction’, Dr Ribeiro argues that players will be able to cope with anxiety and stress much better during the tournament if they indulge themselves regularly.

Dr Vera Ribeiro

She insists that “nothing positive comes from sexual abstinence” – and that forbidding players to make love before games also has a negative impact.

Rui Patricio

Dr Ribeiro, appearing on a Portuguese TV show to promote her book, added: “The football player should not abstain from having sex before games, but we also know that in terms of routine they are not in contact with families either. We can not associate sports performance with the occurrence of sex.”

The wife of Portugal’s goalkeeper, Rui Patricio has urged the national team coach to allow the players to masturbate during the World Cup.

She believes the Portugese national team will have a better chance of success at the tournament if head coach Fernando Santos urges his players to masturbate.

Dr Vera Ribeiro, a psychologist who specialises in sexual matters, has published a book in which she examines the love lives of footballers. In the book titled ‘Manual of Seduction’, Dr Ribeiro argues that players will be able to cope with anxiety and stress much better during the tournament if they indulge themselves regularly.

Dr Vera Ribeiro

She insists that “nothing positive comes from sexual abstinence” – and that forbidding players to make love before games also has a negative impact.

Rui Patricio

Dr Ribeiro, appearing on a Portuguese TV show to promote her book, added: “The football player should not abstain from having sex before games, but we also know that in terms of routine they are not in contact with families either. We can not associate sports performance with the occurrence of sex.”

Lyon though, have confirmed on theirTwitter handle that Fekir has not agreed to join and Liverpool and have also informed not to believe in rumors spread by the media unless it is confirmed by the club.

“The information about the transfer of Nabil Fekir is false,” the club tweeted on Friday. “Olympique Lyonnais categorically denies the false information disseminated by media about the transfer of Nabil Fekir to Liverpool.”

“In this period of transfers where the slightest rumour is often presented as a reality, Olympique Lyonnais recalls that only the information released by the club on its website is authentic.”

The 24-year-old is said to be keen on a move to Anfield, but the French club are hoping positive displays in Russia could see demand and his asking price increase before he is sold.

A Two-week Premier League winter break will now be introduced from 2019-2020 season to help England during that summer’s European Championship and clubs competing in the Champions League.

The break will take place each season until 2022 initially, to coincide with the new television deals, and will start in February 2020. It will be structured so that there are still Premier League matches over every weekend – there will be five one weekend and five the following weekend with all the matches broadcast live in the UK – but every club will have guaranteed time off.

To help create space in the calendar the Football Association will move the FA Cup fifth round to midweek and there will be no replays. Drawn matches at 90 minutes will go to extra-time and penalties.

Replays will remain for the earlier rounds of the FA Cup because the third round in particular is regarded as vital to the competition with the possibility of ‘giant-killing’ fixtures which appeal to the TV audiences.

All three divisions of the Football League – the EFL – remain unchanged with full programmes of matches and, significantly, it will be written into the Premier League rulebook that clubs cannot fly off for lucrative exhibition matches during their break. Players will be given the time to rest and recover.

“This is not seen to be a way and won’t be [of making money],” said Martin Glenn, the chief executive of the Football Association. “The Premier League also feel strongly about it. This will be in their rules, so absolutely not. This has to be a player break.”

“We don’t know what the exact effect will be, but if you look at the other big nations they all have some kind of break which allows players to recover in the middle of an intense season,” Glenn said.

“There’s loads of anecdotal data that it’s going to be helpful as much for a mental break as anything else. I also think it’s as important for the Premier League teams competing in the Champions League as it will be for the England team.

“I think you will see England players better rested for Euro 2020 and hopefully we will see that in their performance, and continued improvement in the Champions League performance by English clubs.”

The issue was finally resolved after the FA agreed to give up a Saturday – when the FA Cup is traditionally played – and Glenn added: “We have never wanted to touch the third round and replays but we felt a movement in the fifth round was a price worth paying.

“What’s changed it is seeing a flexible way of doing it, where we give up a Saturday round in the FA Cup, the fifth round. That allows the Premier League to straddle one of their rounds over two weekends and that creates a 10-day break.

“There is nothing as intense as an English Premier League season, with 38 games and all count for something. The hope is that players will be more mentally rested, which makes them fresher, which you will see in, from an England point of view, hopefully going into end of season tournaments with a bit more verve and vim.

“And, as importantly, the reason the Premier League clubs are so keen on it is that in the Champions League knockout stage, where we’ve not been great over the past few years, hopefully that can help.”